Hands up if this past year has left you with a complexion duller than an episode of EastEnders? You and me both. Praise be, then, for Votary Let’s face it, it’s been one hell of a year. Unless you’re a millionaire or an influencer (or even more annoyingly, both of those things), you’re bound to be stressed to the max right now. I know I am; prowling around the house like a bad-tempered crocodile, snapping at the cat or my husband if I've missed kick-off on Sky Sports or we’ve

This vegan, cruelty-free, super-sustainable beauty brand ticks all the right boxes There are so many really good natural, organic and cruelty-free beauty brands around that it can feel pretty daunting deciding which one to try. Unless we have specific skin issues such as acne, dry, flaking skin or rosacea we’ll probably think our existing skincare routine is just fine. As someone who has just started to have problems with my skin at the age of 48 (a short bout of acne in my l

If there's one trend I'm glad to see come back with a bang it's '80s make-up, and nobody does retro better than Barry M I turned 48 this week. I can’t quite believe it and probably never will, even when I’m 60 I’ll still be saying, ‘I can’t believe I turned 48, never mind the fact that I’m 60’. It BLOWS, getting old, and anyone who says it doesn’t is a liar. So, in a bid to retain the last flush of youth (who am I kidding?) I decided to try out Barry M’s ‘High Vis’ range of

When a brand you coveted in the '80s is still creating a stir almost forty years later, you know it's time to revisit it to see if it still holds its magical appeal... When your new nail polishes go perfectly with your 1940s pastel telephone cord clutch, that's amore Not to be confused with the perma-tanned Barry Manilow who sang of showgirls called Lola and confusing triangles, Barry M is the cult beauty brand that started life in London back in the utter splendour that was

London-based vegan beauty brand Upcircle are heading for iconic status just four years after launching - small wonder when they tick all the boxes for sustainability, innovation and efficacy. Co-founder Anna Brightman puts forward a very strong case as to why we should all be using it Let’s start with the brand’s packaging. Given that 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry, bulked out by the use of complex lids, multi-layered b

Sales of nail polish are through the roof since lockdown began, and it's hardly surprising as we all need a pick-me-up when times are tough - especially when they come in beautiful summer shades such as these from The Glossworks The Glossworks' summer shades include In The Pink, Flamingo and Fandango Fizz I’ve never been high-maintenance when it comes to beauty treatments. I didn’t even get a manicure before my wedding. It was the last thing on my mind and by the time I'd dec